in memoriam

John Britain

John Lloyd Britain, 91, passed away on April 20, 2017, at St. Luke Living Center in Marion, Kansas. 

John was born January 28, 1926, to Winfred and Grace Harder Britain in Strong City, Kansas. He was the oldest of four children. He graduated from Elmdale High School in 1944.

At age 18, John enlisted in the Army and received basic training in Texas.  Assigned to the “Checkerboard” 99th Infantry Division, 395th Infantry Regiment, he went to France, then to Belgium, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII. From there the 395th was part of the offensive into Germany. John received re-assignment to the First Infantry Division, “The Big Red One,” before obtaining an honorable discharge on June 25, 1946, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.  

Following military service, John attended Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, Kansas, now Pittsburg State University, studying electrical engineering. 

John settled in Marion. He married Lucille Helen Spachek on Dec. 26, 1953. They had two sons. John owned and operated MC Radio and Television in Marion for 60 years, repairing radios and televisions, working as an electrician, and selling Maytag appliances.   

John was a volunteer firefighter in Marion for more than 25 years. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6958 in Marion and helped finance/build the present post home.   He was a member of American Legion Post 121 in Council Grove, Kansas. 

John’s wife, Lucille, parents Winfred and Grace Britain, his sister Mary Jane and husband Larry Yaeger, and his sister-in-law Mary Pat Britain preceded John in death. 

John is survived by his companion of 25 years, Nicky Hoffman of Marion; sons, Richard Britain and wife, Debbie, of Lenexa, Kansas, and Tom Britain of Florence, Kansas; grandson John Britain and wife, Ashleigh, and great-grandson, Elliott, of Gardner, Kansas;  grandson Jason Britain of Lenexa; brothers Orville Britain of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Harold “Bud” Britain and wife, Paulette, of Sagle, Idaho; Nicky’s daughter, Heike Reagan of Shreveport, Louisiana, and sons Jerry Hoffman of San Francisco, California, and Nicklaus Hoffman  of Petaluma, California.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. May 6, 2017, at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion.

Memorial contributions can be made to VFW Post 6958 or Marion City Library in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Marion KS 66861. Online condolences can be left at www.zeinerfuneralhomes.com.